Have you changed your mind about a brand? Was it you, or them?

McIntosh. Dreamed about owning a Mc amp/pre and finally after 20+ years got it. Had it 5 years and tried three different speakers and never connected to it, never really enjoyed the sound. Loved the meters.....

bdp24 reminds me of what was definitely my biggest mind changer with his mention of the NYAL “SuperIt”; probably the most overrated piece of audio gear that I have ever experienced first hand. However, one experience should not a brand “mind changer” make.

I bought the SuperIt after having lived with my first “serious” amplifier (and biggest audio investment until then), the NYAL Moscode 600 as well as two of their preamps back in the early days of my audio journey. Tons of power, but no matter the speaker the music didn’t move the way it should. Not knowing any better I could not believe that the problem might be the “mighty” Moscode. Got rid of the SuperIt and lived with the Moscode for another couple of years.

I then bought a pair of the notoriously power hungry Stax F-81 electrostatics after hearing them make glorious sound driven by their own amps and thinking that the Moscode would have no trouble given its power. Sounded awful; not only no boogie, but tonally weird. Then....an epiphany and one of the biggest audio lessons learned. My local TV repair shop had a lowly Dynaco ST-70 sitting in the back unclaimed and I bought it for $85. I tried it with the Stax thinking “what the hell” and to my amazement......music! No volume to speak of, but beautiful, transparent sound that moved (!) even at low volume. I was amazed. Not being able to afford a proper amp for the Stax at the time I sold them and the Moscode. (Bought another pair of Stax years later and still own them.)

In fairness to NYAL, if I ever find a pair of their Futterman OTL’s that won’t blow up,  I just might be tempted.

I went from three sets of B&W speakers to Tekton. Folks that know me were shocked but to a man, after listening sessions, totally agreed.After years of digital solid state, I tested several higher-end amp configurations. Including very expensive solid state and valve. What ultimately won was a Class D Lyngdorf. Did not see that coming but it did. That said, Nelson Pass amp was a very close second.
Loved analog, then digital, then analog again, but am back to digital as my preferred source. But still love my Feickert table source very much. Again, a close second in my heart and still often used.

I once owned Wilson Watt/Puppy Three's. They did soundstage and dynamics very well, but ultimately they drove me out of the room. Since then I've aged (and so has my hearing) and Wilson has switched to a silk dome tweeter and different voicing. Now I love their seamless, effortless qualities and just bought a pair of Sabrinas.

Schiit Audio. I bought their little headphone amp a couple of years back for my son. So completely unlistenable. I don't know if I got a bad one or what, but it should have never left their grounds. It just really turned me off of that brand.